Connor Jessup, 22, is a Canadian actor, best known for his role as Ben Mason on TNT’s Falling Skies. In 2012, Jessup’s performance in Blackbird earned him a “Rising Star” accolade, and he was later named one of Variety’s “Actors to Watch”. (Getty)

Programming Insider

ON THIS DAY
The original version of NBC’s “Concentration” ended its 15-season run in 1973. The game show was initially hosted by Hugh Downs and later by Bob Clayton…CBS daytime serial “Love is a Many Splendored Thing” concluded its five-year run also in 1973…”The Bold and the Beautiful” on CBS premiered in 1987…CBS announced plans to shorten “Captain Kangaroo” to a half-hour format in 1981. The children’s favorite enjoyed an almost 30-year run, airing from Oct. 3, 1955 to Dec. 8, 1984…The final episode of ABC sitcom“The Partridge Family” was telecast in 1974…Celebrity Birthdays: R&B singerChaka Khan is 64; “The Americans” star Keri Russell is 41; blogger Perez Hilton is 39.

-Did You Know?:“The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” sidekick Ed McMahon had a second job for a six month period in 1969 as host of NBC’s “Concentration.”…While “The Partridge Family” is remembered for being paired with “The Brady Bunch” on Friday, ABC moved the comedy to Saturday in the fourth – and final – season in the fall of 1973 opposite the then top-rated series in primetime, “All in the Family” on CBS.

Ratings Breakdown:
Fox moved into the Wednesday overnight winner’s circle thanks to the return of “Empire,” which topped the evening with a 5.5 rating/7 share in households from 9-10 p.m. Comparably, that was 57 percent above the series-premiere of drama “Shots Fired,” which finished second in the 8 p.m. hour with a 3.5/ 6. Comparably, “Shots Fired” opened 30 percent above year-ago time period occupant “Rosewood” (2.7/ 5 on 3/23/16), and it was just eight percent below the season-finale of “Lethal Weapon” one week earlier (3.8/ 6). But since most new series do normally drop 10 to 20 percent in week two, consider this only a respectable opening for “Shots Fired.”

Tops at 8 p.m. was CBS’ “Survivor: Game Changers,” which scored a 5.1/ 9 in the household overnights and featured one of the most unusual tribal councils in the history of this addictive reality/competition.For a look, click here

NOTES OF INTERESTA “Big Bang” Ticking Clock
From Campaign US: Ten years ago, I had a conversation with Johnny Galecki and predicted that his upcoming new CBS sitcom, “The Big Bang Theory,” would not only be a hit, but still be in the top 10 in the ratings in its 10th season. No, I didn’t have a crystal ball. I was the one, after all, who thought that a show about people inhabiting a bar, “Cheers,” would never work. So, I am far from perfect.

But how difficult was it to predict that this tale of likeable — and relatable — nerds, headlined by Jim Parsons as breakout Sheldon Cooper, and Kaley Cuoco as their cool neighbor Penny, would succeed big time? CBS wisely positioned the sitcom on Monday in that first season in the fall of 2007 out of “How I Met Your Mother” (which housed an ample base of young adult viewers), and there was just something about that gang of five that made “The Big Bang Theory” an immediate destination. There was no one else like them on television at the time.

One decade after my first prediction, let me make my next one: I think this is the beginning of the end for “The Big Bang Theory.” For more, click here

Lifestyle Matters, According to Scripps
From PromaxBDA: Scripps Networks, the home of HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Cooking Channel, and Great American Country, began its upfront briefing to members of the press in New York City with a message that applies to every broadcasting outlet. “We are living in the danger of distraction,” began Jon Steinlauf, President, National Ad Sales and Marketing, Scripps Networks Interactive. “Consumers have more media at their fingertips than ever before. With mobile and over-the-top and streaming, their entertainment options are endless.”

“But what we built is a premiere environment for upscale and passionate consumers to engage with our advertising brands,” he said, hawking record ratings, on average, for the Scripps networks in 2016 in the midst of the heated presidential campaign. “How people feel when they are watching the advertiser’s ads on the Scripps Networks is the key to our success. Where an ad lives is just as valuable as who it reaches, maybe even more so. If media buyers limit themselves just to an audience buy they risk airing their message in a place where people don’t engage and respond.”

Citing The Environment and Advertiser Impact Study, commissioned by Scripps Interactive Networks and conducted by Nielsen, the amount of times participants were highly engaged to ads on the Scripps lifestyle networks was 94 percent greater than the genres of general entertainment, reality, news and sports. For more, click here

“The Young and the Restless” Leads the Daytime Emmy Award Nominations
The National Academy of Television has announced the nominations for the 2017 Daytime Emmy Awards. “The Young and the Restless” leads the pack with 25 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, two spots for Outstanding Lead Actress for Gina Tognoni and Jess Walton, and two for Outstanding Lead Actor for Peter Bergman and Kristoff St. John. CBS is the most nominated network, with 70 nods.

Competing for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show are “The View,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “Maury,” “Live With Kelly,” and “The Talk.” And competing for Outstanding Game Show are canceled “Celebrity Name Game,” “Family Feud,” “Jeopardy,” “Let’s Make a Deal” and “The Price Is Right”
The 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will take place April 30, in Pasadena, California. For the full list of nominees, click here

Another Notable Emmy Award Nomination – Sitcom “This Just In”
Recently introduced tweens-themed sitcom “This Just In” on Pop, from Associated Television International and the subject of a feature recently written by yours truly, is now an official Daytime Emmy Award nominee. The category is Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series and it faces “Annedroids” on Amazon, “Give” on NBC, “Odd Square” on PBS, “Xploration DIY” on Pop TV. For a link to the feature, click here

Half Yard Productions Signs Development Deal with David Emmanuel Creative
Fashion designer, Royal Couturier, and executive producer, David Emanuel, designer of, with his ex-wife, the world-famous Wedding Dress for Diana Princess of Wales, among countless other creations, has entered into a multi-title development deal with US-based production company, Half Yard Productions and Atlantic Crossing Productions. The agreement is for the creation of lifestyle shows for US and Canadian audiences. Half Yard and Emanuel are working together on the UK version of TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress,” which Half Yard created and on which Emanuel is series host and creative director.

“The Gong Show” Creator Chuck Barris Dies at 87
Chuck Barris, who was best known for hosting “The Gong Show” and creating “The Dating Game” and “The Newlywed Game,” died on Tuesday of natural causes at his home in Palisades, New York. He was 87.

Born on June 3, 1929 in Philadelphia, Barris got his start in television as a page and later staffer at NBC in New York City, and eventually worked backstage at music show “American Bandstand.” Barris soon became a music industry figure, producing pop music on records and television. His most successful music venture was writing “Palisades Park,” recorded by Freddy Cannon, in 1962. Barris also wrote or co-wrote some of the music that appeared on his game shows.

Barris formed his production company Chuck Barris Productions on June 14, 1965, the home of a number of other game shows including “The Parent Game,” “The Family Game,” “The Game Game,” “The New Treasure Hunt,” “The $1.98 Beauty Show” and “Three’s a Crowd.” In 1976 he began his four season stint hosting “The Gong Show,” and in the spring of 1978 he moved into primetime as host of the short-lived “The Chuck Barris Rah-Rah Show” on NBC.

After selling his company for a reported $100 million in 1980, he wrote his autobiography, “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” claiming to have been a CIA assassin. The book (and the 2002 film based on it, directed by George Clooney) were widely dismissed by disbelievers.

Barris’ other books include the novels “You and Me, Babe” (1974) and “The Big Question” (2007). In 2010 he published “Della: A Memoir of My Daughter,” recalling his only child, who died of a drug overdose at age 36. He is survived by his wife, Mary.

Casting NewsDavid Boreanaz (“Bones”) has replaced Jim Caviezel in an untitled Navy SEAL drama pilot on CBS. The project follows the lives of the elite unit as they train and plan the most dangerous, high-stakes missions our country can ask. Boreanaz will play Jason, the respected, committed leader of his assault team who’s been through over a dozen deployments. The cast also includes Jessica Pare (“Mad Men”), Max Thieriot (“Bates Motel”), Neil Brown Jr., A.J. Buckley and Toni Trucks.

INSTANT REPLAYS

“Survivor: Game Changers” with the ‘Most Ridiculous Tribal Council in the History of Tribal Councils’
From Clippit: Even the 34th edition of “Survivor” still manages to surprise and entertain its fans, including host Jeff Probst. In unprecedented fashion, the two tribes that failed to place first among the three tribes at an Immunity Challenge both went to Tribal Council where they voted out just one castaway from the game. For a look, click here

MARK YOUR CALENDARSFox Announces Summer Premiere Dates
Fox this summer will feature four new non-scripted series: the revival of “Love Connection,” hosted by Andy Cohen; “Beat Shazzam,” hosted by Jamie Foxx; the live “The F Word with Gordon Ramsay,” and “Superhuman,” hosted by Kal Penn and featuring panelists Mike Tyson, Christina Milian and Dr. Rahul Jandial. Also featured will be new seasons of “So You Think You Can Dance,” featuring the return of Mary Murphy, “MasterChef,” and “American Grit,” hosted by John Cena. Here are the start dates:

March Madness continues on CBS. “Baskets” concludes for the season on FX. NBC replaces “Powerless” at 8:30 p.m. ET with an encore telecast of“Trial & Error.” For the schedule listings for Thursday, March 23, click here

Which one of the following sitcoms was not also airing on UPN the season that “Everybody Hates Chris” premiered in 2005-06?

a) “All of Us”
b) “Eve”
c) “Half & Half”
d) “Girlfriends”
e) “Reba”

Is: e) “Reba,” starring Reba McEntire, which aired on The WB from 2001 to 2005 and for one final season in 2005-06 on The CW.

This fall, Reba could be back in primetime, this time on ABC in an untitled drama from “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc Cherry centering on Ruby Adair (McEntire), the sheriff of colorful small town Oxblood, KY, who finds her red state outlook challenged when a young FBI agent of Middle Eastern descent is sent to help her solve a horrific crime. Together they form an uneasy alliance as Ruby takes the agent behind the lace curtains of this Southern Gothic community to meet an assortment of bizarre characters, each with a secret of their own.